Ampoule



1945 A. E. SMITH 2,368,431

AMFOULE Filed July'l9, 194s 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 III h an INVENTOR. ARTHUR ESMITH A T TORNEV 19457 A. E. SMITH 2,368,431

AMPOULE Filed July 19, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a4 INVENTOR.

I ARTHUR E. SMITH A T TORNEV Patented Jan. 30, 1945 UNJIITEDQQ STATESPATENTv 1'" OF F ICE AMPDU'LE... ArthurcE; sin-names Angelesrfla lift-ApplicationrJuly 19,.1-943. Serial 495,318 1e Claims'z -(Ol.128%272lThis invention. relatesjto an Amprovement. in ampoules.

The general-object-zof the invention: isto provide? an improved ampouleconstruction-:inc1uding.-a

novels arnpoule and a novels cork enacting with the novelampoule:and-permitting afresh solution to be readily preparedu:

A. more specific: object-10f the .-invention;.i's to provide anovel Ycombi-ned-ampoule and cork-with i.

cooperating PaIft'SKSO pelletin'ormally sealedvin the corkmay bereadily-- discharged intoqa solvent in the ampoule.

A more specific provide: a' novel ampoulei;

Another obj ect: of the invention is. to provide a novel'cork for; anampoule; a

arranged -that a medicinal.

object of thev invention is to I A further object of the invention is toprovide;

a cork; having 1 novels means incorporated theree with whereby amedicinal preparation. may'ibe sealed in the cork :when the latter isinserted in an ampoule. .2

Otherpb 'ects and the advantages of my invene tion will be apparenttromthe following'descripr tion *takenin connectioniwith theaccompanying,

drawings, whereinz'.

Fig 1 is an-extended sectional. .view showinga, I portion" of an ampouleandj a; stopper: embodying A v the features of myinvention; 1

Figr2 is a'fragmentary;

showing.:the stopper: assembled in theampoule forshipmentyx:

centraL: sectional view- Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig; .2 showing thestopper pushed into the :ampoule .andthe fresh. solutionprepared;

Figs l is a central; .zsectionalv view througha: syringe showing my.improved. ampoule -therein;

Fig.5 is afragmentary, showing a;modified construction;

Fig; 6 is a.- sectionztaken on line Fig? is a viewsimilar to Figa-Gcorkfully'i-nserted in the ampoule; Fig? 8 is aview takenqon line8-8,-Fig. 7;

showing the central; sectionalxview Fig? 9 is an 1 extended,fragmentary, sectional viewshowing afurther modification;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view showing the further modification with thecork ampoule, and

Fig.- 11 is a fragmentary; sectional view showing zzthe" :cork; pushed Ithe medicinalzpelletisdischarged;

inserted in the into the ampoule so that Referring: to :the drawings byreference. char-1 acter's,.:-I have nerallyat LI 0.'lMyiconstruction'inolu-des [an a showncmy :invention; as embodied inz-anzrampoule: construction r-whichc is indicated wall..20 of the.

. l3 so that the such ,.asl p1astic.-. wThiseampoulewhas .a bodyv .12which. is shown as cept for a portion inner end. in a planar shoulder;pendicular to the. axis. of the. ,ampoule.

which, is. planar and perpendicularto theaxislof the ..sto.pper.

end and with... a. recess, 23

tions, 22 andizil. 'lhestoppe i terial.

end of the .ampoule' to the 'lpositionshown in Fig.

2. In this position the .portion .20 .of the stopper, engages ,the.frustoconical portion J 3 on theam-. poulei, and, theinnen end. ofthestopper is come, pressed andsqueezeditogetherso that theinner.sealedas shownin Fig. 2.

particularly.

end of thecavity 23 is My improved construction is adapted ..or use ,inthe prep ration otfreshsolu-v tions. such as solutions of anaesthetizingmaterial employed .sby su geonsifludentals ns i a othersto llrQducelocal anaesthesia. Inthe preparation of thesesolutions a suitable.vehicle such as distilledwater is placed in a container and a drug inpellet, into contact with the vehicle just prior to the time of theinjection so that the solution is fresh,

thereby insuring its potency and the elimination of post operativedifliculties.

In using my improved ampoule. construction the operatorttakes theampoule, "which reaches in .Fig. 2, and he may then push ;upon the end:26 :of the' ampoule, thus moving?the gportionzzfl .beyond' the. portionplanarwall -19 is just :level withor beyondzrthe planar portion 14 onthe planar-w 13. This allows the front ;;end.of the stopper-(toexpand-so that the cavity-22 is again himin "the condition shown portioncylindrical inside .and out .ex-

i .13 neartoneend. of the .1 am:. poule ,Thisportion .l.3 isfrustoaconical andHcon-n verges inwardly; .The portion 1.3 terminates atits which is. per-.

Beyond theshoulder 9 the :outer' stopper. is flIUStDrCOIliQflI. inshape. thelportion 2.0 .is preferably less. abrupt thanithatof the.portion l3 .onithe, .am .v p0ule .-.,which...l.5 engaged .by .theportion. 20, as will .he-.later..describ.ed.., .The. inner..end of,the... stopperis provided with a central recessZZ-at one i.

at ,theother end.. .A thin integral .diaphra mlz i separates. the. porispreferably made of rubber,. synthetic rubber, .orother suitable ma.-. .a

powder or other form is brought the interior of the ampoule.

opened due to theresiliency of the material and the drug then passesinto solution in the vehicle 21 in the main portion of the ampoule.

It will be noted that the portion 20 is longer than the portion l3 sothat the inner end of the portion 20 projects beyond the shoulder l4when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2 and as a result theextreme inner end of the stopper expands as at 43 and extends over theshoulder and thus forms a lock which tends to prevent outward movementof the stopper from the ampoule. This locking feature is of considerableimportance as it prevents loosening of the stopper during shipment andprior to use.

My improved ampoule construction is adapted for use in numerous types ofsyringes. In Fig. 4 I have shownone type with which it may be used. Inthis illustration the syringe includes a body having a rear memberthreaded thereon. The rear member 3| includes telescoping segments 32and33 within which a. plunger 34 moves. through the end member 3| andhas a finger engaging end portion 35 thereon. The inner end of thesegment 33 has a head member 3B.thereon. This head member 36 engages theinner end of the ampoule while the plunger at its lower end has a head31 thereon which engages piston cork 38 which is slidable withintheampoule.

' At its forward end the syringe 30 has a front member 39 thereon inwhich a tube 40 is inv The plunger 34 passes- 3 removably serted. Thistube has an open inner end 4| which is shown as slightly sharpened.

After the ampoule is in the condition shown in Fig.3, the operator mayplace it in the barrel 30, press the rear member 3| thereon and push theampoule forward in the barrel by inserting the rear member 3|. Thiswillcause the end 4| on the tube 407to pierce the diaphragm 24, thusopening communication between-the tube 40 and A suitable hypodermicneedle may be placed on the forward end 42 of the member 39. After theparts are in this position the operator depresses finger member 35 thusmoving the plunger and piston cork thereby discharging the contents ofthe ampoule. 7

Instead of pushing the cork |5 into the ampoule from the position inFig. 2 to the position in Fig. 3 before the ampoule is put into thesyringe the operator may, if he desires, place the ampoule, when theparts are in the position in Fig; 2, in the barreland maythen push theentire ampoule cork forwardly thus forcing the cork l5 into the ampouleand also piercing the diaphragm 34.

In Figs. 5 to 8, inclusive, I show a modification of my inventionwherein the ampoule 50 is simi lar to the ampoule previously describedand includes a frusto-conical portion 5|. The stopper 52 is similar tothe stopper |5 except that the skirt 54 at the inner end of the stopperis arranged in a plurality of segments, shown as three in number anddesignated 55. These segments are out away at the center at 56 and thesegments have planar radial walls 51. The construction is such that whenthe stopper is ar-' ranged in the" ampoule in the. position shown at 55the segments 51 will come in contact as shown at 58, Fig. 6, and at thesame time the outer end of the ity 60 will be out of contact with thevehicle in the ampoule 5U.

cavityfil! in the end of the ampoule will be closed so that a pellet 6|arranged in the cav- The operation of the construction shown in Figs. 5-to 8 is the same as that described previously.

In Figs. 9, 10 and 11 I show a further modification of my inventionwherein the ampoule I0 is provided with a frusto-conical member lar tothe frusto-conical members previously described. A stopper, indicated at12, has a central cavity 13 in which a pellet 14 is arranged. Thestopper l2 flares slightly at its lower end as at 15 with the diameterof this flared portion slightly greater than the internal diameter 16 ofthe ampoule '10. The stopper 12 is moved into the ampoule after thepellet 14 is inserted until the r parts are in the position shown inFig. 10 in. 15

which position the cavity 12 will be sealed at 11. A plastic orgelatinous seal 18 may then be arranged about the ampoule to hold thestopper 12 in place. The front end of the ampoule is provided with astopper I9 which has a diaphragm therein adapted to be punctured by amember such as the tube 40 previously described.

In the operation of the modification the stopper 12 is pushed into theampoule as by the plunger 3'! until the cavity 13 is open and the pellet14 passes into the liquid 8| in the ampoule. The stopper 12 in this typeserves as a piston cork and further movement of this stopper 12 willcause the contents of the ampoule to be discharged as will be readilyunderstood.

In the modifications the stopper 52 has a looking portion. 62 similar-tothe portion 43 and the stopper 12 has a locking portion 82 similar tothe portion 43. These locking portions serve to hold the stoppers inplace prior'to use.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that I have inventeda novel ampoule construction which can be economically manufactured,readily loaded and readily used.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. An ampoule comprising a hollow member having an inwardly convergingportion adjacent to one end, and a stopper, said stopper bein made ofresilient material and including an inwardly opening cavity at the innerend, said stopper including an inner end portion engaging the convergingportion on the ampoule, the normal maximum diameter of thestopper innerend .p0rtion being greater than the minimum diameter of the convergingportion of the ampoule whereby the stopper is compressed and the innerend of the cavity is closed.

2. An ampoule comprising a hollow member having an inwardl convergingportion, and a stopper, said stopper being made of resilient materialand arranged in the ampoule, said stopper including a reducedintermediate portion and an inwardly converging portion beyond theintermediate portion, said stopper having a cavity therein, said cavitybeing open at its outer end, said stopper converging portion engagingthe converging portion on the ampoule, the normal maximum diameter ofthe stopper converging portion being greater than the minimum diameterof the converging portion of the ampoule adjacent the shoulder, wherebythe stopper is compressed by the engagement of the converging portions.

3. An ampoule comprising a hollow. elongated, cylindrical member havingan inwardly converging portion, and a stopper made of resilient materialand including a reduced portion, said step per including an inwardlyconverging portion beyond the reduced portion, said stopper having acavity therein, said cavity being normally open at its outer end, saidstopper converging portion enaaeaiesrgagangamine-attendiirgz.beyondaheicomrergingpore tion 'on itheampoul'aithe?normalz'rmaximumrnli ameter of therstopperaconvergingportioncbeing greaterlthanwthePminirnum:'diaineternof the icon vergingiDOFtiOIlT :of -ithez'ainpoulemadjacentwthe shoulder whereby the stopperis compressednb the engagement of thefl convergingizportionsnand1theiinner; ends of thercavitylz is' clos'edg'ithetrimier endfof theconverging'zportion:fonning wbead and. thereby providing aisealrxi.

membera havingi an inwardly *-convergin'g-.-.: portionadjacentxto.ionesoend, :said. convergingriportioin terminating inwardly?in a shouldeii-i andmt stop and ncluding-anrouterienduarrangedxinsaidion end portioniof the-ampoule, saidzstopperz-xincludingza reduced intermediate'portio-niiandianr wardly convergingl portionbeyondithe intermedi ate portlong said stopper: having 13x3. cavity;therein saidi-cavity beinglrnormally open' iat its router; end:

mene :o-f athei cjonverging .porti ons: ran d :th e1:- drone-rm end ofthe cavit is closed.-

endiportion thereofpthe-other.end portionof said amponl e'z-h ailing-Ianirinwardl y .convergin'g rportion ampoulethav-ing ancinwardlyconvergingtportioii saidieonyerging eportiontterminatinginwardlyzin oftheiompoulepand aistopperrsaidastopperbeing made oif resilientimaterialandin'cludin'g a= cylin endrpbrtioirzthereotnthetotherendpbrtion: ofsaid? o a plane ShOlllldEIfZI-Wl'ii'CIL-TS perpendicular to the-axisdricalzendipal'tifittingthe other end portion of the-rs.

ampoule;isaidestopper beyond 'the:first cylindrical? 1 portionwinoluding::aareducedzportion, said: stopper 1Uincludingiaminwardlyconverging:portionrbeyond 4.nniampouler'comprisingiazhollow;cylindricaltheriseoondscylindricalzportion;said. stopper hav in'gaa-'cavityotl1erein,=.isaid: cavity being inormally sopeniiatwzits'zoutentendand closed: at itsiinner'end by.adiaphragmzzintegraiz'withsthe stopper; said stopper:converginglportion!engaging the lconverging-znortions ton therainpoule', thenormalumaxie'vmumrdiametenof the-stopper:iconverginghportion, beinggreaterathanitheajminimum diameter of the convergingaportion :ofthe-ampoule adjacent the H the=rengagement 1 of the-inneioendroftheicavityis closed; a

8. 'Anrampoulecomprising: a": hollow;

2 shoulder whereby:.thetstopperis compressed byv ;.the;:convergingportions andv elongated, I

cylindrical memberz-havingia' frusto conical', .in-

rwardlyiconvergingz shoulder portion, said;frusto-.

' conical rportionzfterminating inwardlyi in a, planeshouldeizowhich .isperpendicular. to the 'axis .of

the,rampoule,'; =andrza stopper; said stopper being resilient materialand-including a 'cylin-' drioa'lnendcpart .fitting the; ampoule, 'said'stopper,

made of beyond thenfirstzz'zcylindricalr portions including areduced":iportiomosaidi stopper. including: an*giIlwardlycponverging:frustoeconical:portionbeyond 1 i theredncediportion; said=stopper having a cavitysaid;convergingiportioniterminating in wardlyiina ;;t1herei1r;saidmavityszsbeing lnormally" open at :its--, outer: endiandsclosed atitsninnerend, said stopper frustoconical portion. engaging ithe'f-rustoconicakportionlon-theifam'poule, the bnormal maximumshouldergrandtaz portion including .areducedmortionpsaid stopper 40including aminwardlyifconyergingiportionzbeyond theisecond cylindricalp0rtiomrsaid stopperhaving a cavity therein;isaid icavityl'beinginormallyfopen at itsrouter:endrandmlos'ed at itsi-inn'er end, said stopperconverging portion engaging the converg ing portionlxon:theiampoule, thenormal maximum diameter of the stopper converging portion being greaterthan the minimum diameter of-the converging portion of the ampouleadjacent the shoulder whereby the stopper is compressed by theengagement of the converging portions and the inner end of the cavity isclosedv 6. An ampoule comprising a hollow, elongated, cylindrical memberhaving an inwardl converg-- ing shoulder portion,

shoulder and a stopper, said stopper being made of resilient materialand including an end part fitting the ampoule, said stopper beyond thefirst cylindrical portion including a reduced portion, said-stopperincluding an inwardly converging portion beyond the; reduced portion,said stopper having a cavity portions and the inner end of the cavity isclosed. the stopper and ampoule being so proportioned that when thestopper converging portion is at poule, said stopper, beyond having apiston stopper in one dialireterodf tthef: frusto 'conic'al stopperportion the inner: 561161201; ithe-rcavity is closed, said stopperfru'sigoeconic'alcpiortioncterminatinginwardly in a,

shouldernwhichris .Iplanarcand perpendicular to e1 tl'ie axisloftheaampoule; the stopper'and' ampoule partstibeingisso proportionedthat: when the stopper is moved inwardly so that the stopper shoulder isdisposed at least even with the ampoule shoulder the frusto-conicalportion on the stopper Will be free to expand to permit the stoppercavity to open and a preparation arranged in said cavity,

9. An ampoule comprising a hollow, elongated, cylindrical member havinga piston stopper in one end thereof, the other end of said ampoulehaving a frusto-conical, inwardly converging shoulder portion, saidfrusto-conical portion terminating inwardly in a plane shoulder which isperpendicular to the axis of stopper, said stopper being made ofresilient material and including an end flange and a cylindrical endpart fitting the other end of the amthefirst cylindrical portion,including a second reduced cylindrical portion, said stopper includingan inwardly converging frusto-conical portion beyond the secondcylindrical portion, said stopper having a cavity therein, said cavitybeing normally open-at its outer end and closed at its inner end by adiathe ampoule, and a by the engagement of thecornplemental portion andthe inner end of thecavity is closed, said,

stopper frusto-conical portion terminating inwardly in a shoulder whichis planar and perpendicular to the axis of the ampoule, the stopper andampoule parts being so proportioned that when the flange on the stopperengages the end of the ampoule the stopper shoulder will be disposed atleast even with the ampoule shoulder so that the frusto-conical portionon the stopper will be free to expand to permit the stopper cavity toopen and a preparation arranged in said cavity.

10. An ampoule comprising a hollow, elongated, cylindrical member havinga frusto-conical, in wardly converging shoulder portion, said frustoconical portion terminating inwardly'in a plane shoulder which isperpendicular tothe axis of the ampoule, and a stopper, said stopperbeing made of resilient material and including a cylindrical end portionwith an external flange thereon, said stopper beyond the firstcylindrical portion including a plurality of segmental portions whichtaper downwardly, said segmental portions having spaced, planar,opposed, radial walls, the' inner faces of said Walls being normallyspaced from each other to form a recess, each of said segmental portionshaving an external tapering flange on the inner end thereof.

11. An ampoule comprising a hollow, elongated, cylindrical member-havinga frusto-conical, inwardly converging shoulder portion, saidirustoconical portion terminating inwardly in a plane shoulder which isperpendicular to the axisof the ampoule, and a stopper, said stopperbeing made of resilient material and including a cylindrical outerendpart, said stopper beyond the cylindrical part flaring outwardly,said stopper having a cavity therein, the outer end of said cavity beingopen, the inner end of said cavity extending beyond the flaring portion.

12'. An ampoule stopper made of resilientmaterial and including acylindrical end portion, said stopper beyond the eluding a reducedportion, said stopper including an inwardly converging frusto-conicalportion first cylindrical portion inbeyond the reduced portion, saidstopper having a recess extending inwardly from the front end, saidrecess being closed at itsouter end by 2. diaphragm integral with thestopper, said stopper frusto-conical portion terminating inwardly in ashoulder.

13. An ampoule stopper made of resilient material and including acylindrical end portion having an outwardly directed flange, saidstopper beyond the first cylindrical portion including a second reducedcylindrical portion, said stopper including an inwardly convergingfrusto-conical portion beyond the second cylindrical portion, saidstopper having a recess extending inwardly from each end, said recessesbeing closed at their inner ends by a diaphragm integral with thestopper, said stopper frusto-conical portion terminating inwardly in ashoulder which is planar and perpendicular to the axis of the stopper.

14. An ampoule stopper made of resilient material and including acylindrical end portion, said stopper including a plurality of segmentalportions, said segmental portions having spaced, opposed walls, theinner faces of said walls being normally spaced from each other to forma recess,

each of said segmental portions having an external flange thereon.

15. An ampoule stopper made of resilient material and including acylindrical end portion with an external flange thereon, said stopperbeyond the first cylindrical portion including a plurality of segmentalportions which taper downwardly, said segmental portions having spaced,planar, opposed, radial walls, the inner faces of said walls beingnormally spaced from each other to form a recess, .each of saidsegmental portions having an external flange on the inner end thereof.

16. An ampoule stopper made of resilient material and includingacylindrical end part, said stopper beyond the first cylindrical portionflaring outwardly, said stopper having a cavity therein, the outer endof said cavity being open, the inner end of said cavity extending beyondthe flaring portion.

ARTHUR E. SMITH.

